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T. VON ZWEIGBERGK. REVERSING AND CUTTING OUT SWITCH FOR ELECTRIC MOTORS.

No. 595,868. Patented De0.21,1897;

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(No Model.)

T. VON ZWEIGBERGK. REVERSING AND CUTTING OUT SWITCH FOR-ELEGTRIO MOTORS.

Patented Dec. 21,1897.

min 66029 (9/5 UNITED STATES PATENT Orrics.

TI'IORSTEN VON ZVEIGBERGK, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE WVALKER COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

REVERSING AND CUTTING-OUT SWITCH FOR ELECTRIC MOTORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 595,868, dated December 18 7- Application filed September 20, 1897. Serial No. 652,308. (N m del.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THORSTEN VON Zwnre- BERGK, a subject of the King of Sweden and Norway, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reversing and Cutting-O ut- Switches for Electric Motors and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of my invention is to provide a reversing and cutting-out switch adapted for use in conjunction with a controller and a plurality of motors more particularly four) and serving with the controller to connect the motors in any desired manner to reverse them or cut out certain of them.

The invention consists, generically, in the combination, with a controller, of a switch adapted to reverse four motors or cut out certain of them; also, in a reversing or cuttingout switch consisting of two series of contactplates and two series of contact-fingers, the same arranged so that the fingers of one series bear the same relation to the contact-plates of one series that the fingers of the other series do to the contact-plates of the other series, While the contact-plates of one series are connected together in a different manner from the contact-plates of the other series.

The invention likewise consists in the construction, substantially as specified, of the movable member or cylinder of the reversing and cutting-out switch.

The drawings clearly illustrate my invention.

Figure 1 is a side of the elevation of the reversing-switch with its case removed. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of same, taken on the line 2 2, looking downward. Figs. 3 and are detailed views of certain contact-plate sections, being those shown at U or U and t V respectively, on Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 5 5, Fig. 1, looking downward. Fig. 6 is a development of the surface of the cylinder shown on Fig. 1, together with diagrammatic views of four motors and a controller and the connecting-conductors.

The cylinder of the reversing-switch consists of two homologous semicylinders of the same radius, both supported to revolve about the same axis, which is the center of curvature of each semicylinder.

I use the term cylinder herein in its ordinary acceptance in the controller art and the term semicylindei in a corresponding manner, it being understood that the parts so mentioned are in realitybuilt up of a series of segmental plates placed about one axis.

1 build up the switch-cylinder on two rods A A, which form the central frame of the two seinicylinders. These two rods A are secured together at their extremities by the crossheads B and B. rejecting from the center of these cross-heads in opposite directions are the shafts C and C. The axis of these shafts is the axis of the cylinder, and these shafts are the journals of the cylinder and, as shown in Fig. 1, occupy bearings K K, carried by the switch-case. The upper end of the shaft C is formed in some suitable definitive shape, as shown at c, for the reception of the operating-handle.

The two rods A A are flattened on one side, as at a, through the free portion of their length, and they are surrounded by sleeves D and interposed collars E, both of which sleeves and collars are of insulating material. These sleeves have a flattened side 6 to correspond with the flattened portion of the rods A, whereby the sleeves are rendered incapa ble of turning upon those rods. Sections which supply the segmental contact-plates, forming the cylinder proper, made preferably of brass or copper, surround these insulatingsleeves D between the collars E. These sections consist of the sleeves F, having the flattened portion j, which, cooperating with the flattened exterior of the sleeve D, prevents the section turning on the red A, the web f extending from the sleeve, and one or more contact-plates carried by the web. These contact-plates are designated by U 1.1, V r, with varying exponents, according to their position, as will be seen in the development in Fig. 6. Projecting from these sleeves F are also the arms f having bifurcated ends in which are secured connections (marked a: and

y, with varying exponents) which connect the different sections together. The sections also have ribs f strengthening the webs and bracing the contact-plate, and the whole section is preferably cast integral.

In building up the cylinder an insulatingsleeve is first placed upon the rod A, and the proper section is placed upon the sleeve, and then a collar slipped on the rod, and another sleeve and section and another collar, and so on. After the sleeves, sections, and collars are in place on the two rods the ends of these rods are inserted into the two blocks B B and are secured therein by means of the pins b passing through the blocks and rods. The connections 00 and y 11 are then placed in the arms f and the ends of the arms are bent around to clasp the connections, and the joint is tightly soldered, thus insuring good electrical connection. The short shafts O and O are then inserted into the blocks 13 and B and are secured thereto by means of the screwbolt G, which screws into a boss 11 on the blocks and has a tapering end g, which passes into the shafts C and C.

In the condition just described, either before or after the cylinder is placed in its bearings, as desired, a detent-wheel I, having as many peripheral notches i i as there are positions in which the wheel is intended to stand, is secured to the lower end of the shaft C. A pawl J, pivoted at some convenient point to the case, carries a roller j, bearing against the periphery of the detent-wheel and adapted to stand in the notches and is pressed toward the detent-wheel by a spring j or in other suitable manner. The notches in the detentwheel and the roller j thus cooperate to prevent movement of the switchcylinder by slight pressure, but allow its movement by pressure of the desired magnitude.

A series of contact-fingers m to m are carried on suitable spring-arms on one side of the switch-cylinder and engage therewith, and a similar series it to n are carried in like manner on the opposite side of the switchcylinder. The contact-surface of the sections carried by .the two rods A A are similar, but in reversed position, so that a point on the contact-surface of one section corresponds to a point diametrically opposite 011 the opposite section. Hence the contact-fingers of the m series and the corresponding fingers of the a series sustain corresponding relations to the two semicylindcrs of the reversing-switch at all times. The contact-plates of one series govern the armatures and fields of two motors and the contact-plates of the other series govern the armatures and fields of two other motors. Each semicylinder is adapted to connect the motors it governs in series, in parallel, or to cut out either. The contactplates in one semicylinder are connected together consecutively and in the other semicylinder alternately, while opposite motorterminals are connected to the two series of contact-fingers. The result is that although the two semicylindcrs are themselves differently connected up they will direct the current through whatever motors are in circuit in the same direction, while if the cylinder is rotated through one hundred and eighty degrees, so as to bring the m series of contactfingers into engagement with plates which were in engagement with the nserics, the m0- tors will be connected in the same manner as formerly, except that they will be reversed.

The contact-plates and connections of each semicylinder are such that in the first position the two motors governed by each semicylinder are in series, in the second position in parallel, while in the third position one motor governed by each semicylinder is cut out, and in the remaining position the other two motors are cut out and the two formerly cut out are now in circuit.

The reversing-switch is adapted for use with four motors and a series-parallel and cutting-out controller, which governs the sets of motors governed individuallyby the two semicylinders of the reversing-switch. I have shown such a controller diagrammatically in Fig. 6, though the controller shown is simply illustrative, and in practice a controller which also on ts out resistance and perhaps does other work would be used. The controller shown in position No. 1 connects the two semicylinders in series and in position No. 2 in parallel. In position No. 3 it cuts out the left-hand one and in position No. lit cuts out the righthand one.

In Fig. 6 the contact-fingers oi' the righthand or 01 series are connected with motors Nos. 1 and 2 and the left-hand or on series with motors Nos. 8 and 4:. s and r, with varying exponents, represent the conductors which connect, respectively, the a series and the m series of contact-fingers with their respective motors and with the controller. The contact-plates oi the left-hand semicylinder are designated by U and u, with exponents, and those of the right-hand one by V and 1:, with similar exponents. It will thus be seen that the plates, contact-fingers, and conductors which coooperate are of the same exponents.

The current comes to a controller from the trolley or other terminal T through the conductor if, and after passing through the 1notors in circuit, as described below, goes to the ground or return wire \V via the conductor w.

I will now describe the operation of the re versing-switch for each of its positions and for each position of the controller.

Let us suppose the controller to be in the first position, so that the two semicylindcrs of the reversing-switch are connected in series. If new the contact-fingers of the a series are in position No. 1 on the right-hand semicylinder and contact-fingers of the 711. series are in a similar position on the lefthand semicylinder, the following is the course of the current: From terminal T via conductor 6 through the controller to conductor 3 thence to the contact-fingern thence to the plate V thence via the connection y" to the plate V to the contact-finger a to conductor s and via the latter to the armature of the motor No. 1, thence via conductor S to contact-finger n, and to plate V From this plate the current passes via connection y to plate V thence via contact-finger n and conductors to the field of motor No. 1, thence via conductor 5- to contact-finger a, and to plate V.

From here it passes via connection f, plate V contact-finger a, conductor .5 to the armature of motor No. 2, thence via conductor .9 to contact-finger n and plate V, thence via connection 3 to plate V contactfinger n and conductor .9 to the field of motor No. 2, and thence via conductor 5 to contact-finger a to plate V and via connection g to plate V contact-finger n, and via conductor S to controller. From the controller the current passes out via the conductor r to the contact-finger m and passes through motors Nos. 3 and at in series in the same manner as through motors Nos. 1 and 2, coming back to the controller via the conduetorrt From r the current passes through the controller to the conductor 20, and from this to the ground or return wire XV. If the reversing-switch is now moved one notch, so that the contact-fingers are on the lines 2, the current passes from s to V but here divides and passes via the connection 1/ and the plate V to the armature of motor No. 1, and via the portion '0 of the plate V and conductor s to the armature of motor No. 2. From these two armatures the current passes back via conductors s and s, respectively, and from thence through the two fields of these motors and back to the controller. From the controller the current passes in similar manner to motors Nos. 3 and at, thus connecting motors 1 and 2 in parallel and motors 3 and at in parallel, while the first pair is connected in series With the second pair. In position No. 3 of the reversing-switch the current passes from 8 to V to V to the armature and field of motor No. 1, and thence back to controller, and then to the armature and field of motor No. 3, and to the ground, motors Nos. 2 and 4. being cutout. In position No. a motors Nos. 1 and 3 are cut out and the current passes through motors Nos. 2 and l. The next notch to which the reversing-switch may be turned (the notch of the detentwheel) leaves both of the series of contactfingers out of contact with any of the plates and thus the switch is off. If the switch is turned to the notch i (one notch farther,) the contact-fingers of them series are brought into position No. 1 on the right-hand half of the controller, and the a series engage with the left-hand half. This causes a reversal of the four motors while they are all connected in series, as the cross-connections a, 00 2;", and :0 connect together alternate contact plates, whereas the cross-connections 3 U2,

3 and connect together consecutive contact-plates. Thus in this position the current coming from the controller to contact-finger a would pass to plate U thence through the armature of motor No. 1 and back to plate U which is just the reverse direction it traveled when the contact-fingers of the m series were in this position. From U the current passes to U and travels through the field of motor No. 1, as before. Motor No. 1 is therefore reversed. As shown in the drawings, after leaving the field of motor No. 1 the current passes through the armature of motor No. 2 in the same direction as formerly and then through the field in reverse direction, thus reversing this motor. Similar results will take place in motors 3 and at. It will thus be seen that when the contactfingers of the a series are brought onto the U series of plates and the contact-fingers of the m series onto the V series of plates the current is reversed through whatever connections are established. I have shown motors 1 and 3 reversing by means of their armatures and motors 2 and 4: by their fields, but the reversal may be at either place, and hence both methods are illustrated.

If the controller were placed in position 2, so that the two sets of motors governed by the two semieylinders of the reversing-switch were connected in parallel, then in position 1 of the reversing-switch motors Nos. 1 and 3 would be in parallel and motors Nos. 2 and 4 in parallel and the two sets connected with each other in series. In position No. 2 of the reversing-switch all four of the motors would be in parallel. In position No. 3 motors Nos. 1 and 3 would be in parallel and motors Nos. 2 and 4 cut out. In position No. 1 motors Nos. 2 and a would be in parallel and the other two out out.

"With the controller in position No. 3 the m series of the conl'actfingers are out out altogether, and if the reversing-switch were in position No. 1 the current would pass through motors Nos. 1 and 2 in series to the ground; in position No. 2, through motors Nos. 1 and 2 in parallel; in position No. 3, through motor No. 1 only, and in position No. a, through motor No. 2 only. Likewise if the controller were in position No. 4 the current would pass through motors Nos. 3 and at in series, through them in parallel, through motor No. 3 alone, or through motor No.4 alone, according as reversing-switch was in position 1., 2, 3, or 4:.

It will thus be seen that by the use of my reversing and cutting-out switch, in combination with a series-parallel and cutting-out controller, any desired combination may be made with four motors.

Having thus described my invention, I claim-- 1. The combination of a controller, a pl urality of motors, and a switch in the circuit between the controller and motors, said switch governing in sets the individual connections of different motors and said controller governing the connections between the sets collectively, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a controller, a plurality of motors, and a reversing and cutting-out switch in the circuit between the controller and motors, and adapted to reverse the motors or out out some of them, said switch havin g two series of contactfingers and two series of contact-plates, one series of plates and fingers connecting up a portion of the motors, and the other series another portion, and said controller adapted to connect in different manners those motors which are connected with one series of contact fingers and plates with those motors which are connected with the other series, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a reversing-switch consisting of two series of contact-fingers,

and a movable member having two series of contact-plates adapted to be engaged by said contact-fingers, a plurality of motors, connected a portion with one series of contact-fingers and the remainder with the other series, and a controller adapted to govern the connection between the motors connected with one series of contact-fingers and the motors connected with the other series, substantially as described.

4. The combination of four motors, two sets of contact-fingers, one set connected with two motors and the other set with the other two, and a relatively movable member carrying two series of contact plates, one series of contact-plates governing the two motors connected with either series of contact-fingers, combined with a controllergoverning the connection between the set of motors which one series of contact-plates govern, and the set of motors which the other series of contact plates govern, substantially as described.

5. The combination of a reversing-switch composed of two homologous semicylinders and two series of contact-fingers adapted to engage with the same, motors connected with said contact-fingers and a controller adapted to connect the motors governed by one semicylinder in series or in parallel with those governed by the other semicylinder, substantially as described.

6. In a reversingswitch, two series of contact-fingers, in combination with a relatively movable member carryingtwo homologous series of contact-plates, each of said series of plates being adapted to contact with either series of contact-fingers, substantially as described.

7. In a reversing-switch, a movable member carrying two series of contact-plates, the plates of one series being coupled together in a different mannerfrom the plates of the other series, in combination with two series of contact-fingers, each series adapted to engage with either series of contact-plates, and one series of contact-fingers sustaining the same relation to one series 01": plates that the other series of contact-fingers do to the other series of plates, substantially 'as described.

8. A reversing and cutting-out switch comprising, in combination, a moving surface having a plurality of contact-plates arranged in two series, one series adapted to pass the current in the forward direction, and the other series to pass it in the reverse direction, and two series of contact-fingers arranged in the path traversed by the moving contactplates, and having electrical connections with the circuit in which motors are operated, there being certain positions of said moving surface in which some of said contact-lingers are out of contact with the plates with which theyare adapted to contact in other positions, whereby certain of the motors are cut out when the moving surface is in certain positions, substantially as described.

9. A reversing-switch comprising in combination, a cylinder adapted to be turned on its axis, and having on its periphery a plurality of contact-plates arranged in two series, one series adapted to pass the current in the for ward direction, and the other to pass it in the reverse direction, corresponding points on said two series of plates being diametrically opposite, and two series of contact-fingers arranged on diametrically opposite sides of said cylinder, substantially as described.

10. A reversing-switch having two homologous series of contact-plates, one of the series having consecutive plates connected together and the other series having alternate plates connected together, and two series of contact-fingers, each series adapted to engage with either series of contact-plates, the relative disposition of said contact plates and fingers being such that when one series of contact-fingers are in engagement with one series of plates, the other series of contact-fingers are in engagement with the other series of plates, there being provision for relative movement between the contact-plates and contact-fingers, substantially as described.

11. The combination with the fields and armatures of four motors, the leading in and out conductors therefor, and two series of contact-fingers,one series connected with two of the motors and the other series with the other two, with a movable switch adapted to occupy at least four different operative positions relative to the fingers and having thereon two series of contact-plates, arranged sub stantially as described, whereby in one position the motors connected with one series of contact-fingers are connected together in series, and the motors connected with the other series of contact-fingers are connected together in series, and in another position, the motors connected with each series of contactfingers are connected together in parallel, and in two other positions the motors are c0nnected as hereinbefore mentioned but reversed, substantially as described.

12. A reversing and cutting-out switch for IIO four motors, having two series of contact-fingers, each connected substantially as described with the terminals of the fields and armatures of two motors and with leading in or out wires, and a relatively movable mem ber, having two homologous series of contactplates, each series being adapted to contact with either series of contact-fingers and electrically connect said contact fingers, the plates of one series being adapted in one position to connect togetherin consecutive pairs all of the contact-fingers of one series, in another position to connect together in consecutive pairs a portion of said series of contactfingers, and in another position to connect together in consecutive pairs another portion of said series of contact-fingers, the other series of contact plates simultaneously connecting together in alternate pairs similar portions of the other series of contact-fingers, substantially as described.

13. The combination with two series of contact-fingers, each adapted to be connected with two motors, of a relatively movable member carrying two homologous series of contact-plates, each of said series being adapted to contact with either series of contact-fin gers, and each adapted to connect the motors connected with the contact-fingers with which it is engaging, in series, in parallel, or cut out either of them, the one series of contactplates being connected together alternately with respect to the other series, whereby, when the contact-fingers which were in engagementwith one series of plates are brought into similar position on the other series of plates, the motors are connected as formerly but reversed, substantially as described.

14. A reversing and cutting-out switch consisting of a relatively movable member carrying two series of plates combined with two series of contact-fingers, one series of 0011- tact-fingers being adapted to engage with one series of plates while the other series of contact-fingers are in engagement with the other series of plates, each series of contact-fingers being adapted to contact with either series of said plates, said switch being adapted to stand in eight positions, one of which is adapted to connect motors connected to each series of contact-fingers in series, another of which is adapted to connect the same motors in paral lel, another of which is adapted to cut out one motor connected with each series of contactfingers, and another of which is adapted to cut out another motor connected with each series of contact-fingers, the four other positions connecting the motors in the same manner but reversed, substantially as described.

15. in a reversing or other switch, a movable member composed of two series of contact-plates, each built up upon a rod A,which rods are connected together by cross-heads B and B, there being shafts C and 0 project ing from said cross-heads and forming journals for the said movable member, and two series of contact-fingers adapted to engage with corresponding points on the two series of contact-plates, substantially as described.

16. In a reversing or other switch, in combination, two rods A connected together and j ournaled on the same axis, insulating-sleeves D surrounding each of the rods, and contact plate sections surrounding the sleeves and carrying contact plates the curvature of which is an arc of a circle about said axis, substantially as described.

17. The combination in a reversing-switch of the two rods A A connected together and journaled on the same axis, insulating-sleeves D surrounding each of these rods, contactplate sections surrounding the sleeves, crossconnections as y, &c., connecting the contactplate sections of one shaft A in consecutive pairs, and cross-connections as as, &c., conneetin g the contact-plate sections on the other shaft A in alternate pairs, substantially as described.

18. In a reversing or cutting-out switch or similar device, in combination, the shaft A, flattened on one side, the insulating-sleeve D similarly flattened on one side, the contactplate sections carried by said insulatingsleeves, and consisting of the sleeve F, likewise flattened on the side at f, the web f and curved contact-plate carried thereby, the arm f projecting tl1erefrom,and cross-connections joined to the arms f of different contact-plate sections, substantially as described.

19. In an electric switch, the combination of two series of contact-plates and two series of contact-fingers, there being provision for relative movement between the plates and fingers, and each series of plates being adapted to contact with either series of fingers, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

'lllORS'lEN VON ZWEIGBERGK.

Witnesses:

ALBERT H. Barns, E. B. GILcHRIsr. 

